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Merrick Life • Bellmore Life • Freeport-Baldwin Leader • Wantagh-Seaford Citizen

Monday’s Village Board meeting continued the discussion of hazardous traffic conditions along parts of North Main at intersections that include Dean and Milton Streets and Woodside Avenue.
   
During public comment, Douglas Mayers voiced concern about the Woodside intersection. “Nothing is being done about it,” he said. “It’s a dangerous street. There’s not enough clearance to see oncoming traffic.” He called for the installation of traffic lights or prohibition of parking.
   
Mayor Andrew Hardwick replied that  because North Main is a county road stop signs cannot be placed at certain intersections, nor can parking be prohibited, because it is a commercial district.
   
“The only option that works is a one-way street,” the mayor said, calling for a speedy solution to the problem. “We’re going to keep bringing it up until it gets done. It’s taken too long and should have been done a long time ago. Too many lives have been lost.”
   
At the board’s November 7 meeting, an action item to make East Milton, East Dean and Woodside one way for a distance of one block east of North Main was not acted upon following a discussion in which Trustee William White questioned why a traffic study had not been made to evaluate the situation in the area before the item appeared on the agenda.
   
At Monday’s meeting, Mayor Hardwick commented that “due diligence doesn’t require a study.”
   
He and Mr. White discussed their opinions on the issue. “Every time there’s a fatality we don’t turn a street into a one-way street,” Mr. White said.
   
“That intersection’s a death trap,” the mayor said.
   
The other board members also favored a traffic study.  Robert Kennedy said he would “refrain from making a decision” until a professional opinion is rendered.
   
Carmen Pineyro stated “We need to have studies from the experts. By having the right information, we will be able to make the right decision.”
   
Since last week’s meeting, the Department of Public Works, with assistance from the Police Department, has begun a traffic study, which could take six weeks or more. However DPW Superintendent Scott Richardson said he “would try to expedite it.”

Revisiting auditor’s report
Three speakers, Paul Martin, Pat Jones and W.E. Lindsey, raised issues relating to the recent state audit.
   
Mr. Martin and Mr. Jones each directed a list of questions to Mr. White about fiscal problems occurring under the Glacken administration that also affect the current administration, including the spending of bond money for purposes other than intended for the bond.
   
Mr. White noted that part of the funds went to settle tax certiorari cases, which has also been the practice under the current administration, as noted in the audit. He added that the majority of the funds “were spent to improve the infrastructure of the village.”
   
Ms. Lindsey  read a statement about the need for fiscal responsibility in the aftermath of previous administration’s financial management problems.
   
Also raised was the issue of the Brooklyn Waterworks lawsuit, which the current administration settled for $3.7 million and which Mr. White said was “done in error.”

The trustee also reminded the audience that the new electric generating plant was built “with bonds floated by the previous administration.”
   
Resident Francis Cooper cited a Newsday article that several county villages had negotiated for a lower cost of natural gas used to generate electricity, among them Mineola, at a savings of 8 %, but the list did not include Freeport.
   
Electric Department Superintendent Anthony Fiore responded that the village has been looking into changing its gas supplier and that bids have been sent to 18 suppliers.
   
James Carriciolo, who praised Mayor Hardwick for his accomplishments, questioned Ms. Pineyro about a civic meeting she attended recently at the Recreation Center relating to an incident on Overton Street, about five blocks south of Randall Park, where 25 gunshots had been fired. She replied that the incident was still under investigation by the Police Department and she could not make a statement.
   
Mayor Hardwick, who did not attend the Recreation Center meeting, replied that the tenant at the Overton Street residence had been arrested.
   
Luis Rodriguez expressed concern about the possibility of a night club opening at 40 West Merrick Road, but village officials said no licenses have been issued for a business at that location.
   
Kim Lopez also commended the mayor for his good work and asked that more housing be available for persons age 55 and older.
   
Mayor Hardwick stated that housing units have been built at two locations, but have not been purchased and that foreclosed homes could be purchased under a special government program.
   
Stephen Malone asked why a deputy mayor has not yet been named and the status of airing complete board meetings on the local access cable channel.
   
No decision has been made yet on appointing a deputy mayor.
   
Trustee Jorge Martinez said new software and equipment are required to air the full meetings and that discussions on the issue have been taking place.  

Wanted: More chickens
One Freeport resident hopes that more chickens can come home to roost – at her residence. Carolyn Hecht, who is retired, asked trustees at consider allowing residents to own more than two chickens, as village ordinances stipulate.
   
Mrs. Hecht said she has two chickens that do not lay as many eggs as when they were younger and would like to have up to eight – four each year over the next two years – so she can have an increase in the number of eggs available each day. She said the chickens do not make noise, except to cluck when laying their eggs.

Regular agenda

• Trustees approved a small number of action items under the regular agenda, including the scheduling of a special meeting Tuesday, November 29, at 6 p.m. to begin discussions on the next fiscal year’s budget. Village Attorney Howard Colton said the board will go to executive session to discuss the budget and that the first public budget workshop will take place at 9 a.m., Saturday, December 10.
• The board awarded a $170,000 contract for a six-wheel combination dump truck and spreader to Syosset Truck Sales Inc., of Westbury. The new truck will replace an older truck nearly 30 years old that can no longer be maintained. Mr. Malone complained about the purchase, stating that “three police cars could have been purchased” with those funds.
• However, Mayor Hardwick and Police Chief Miguel Bermudez said no patrol cars needed immediate replacement. Chief Bermudez said replacement of some older vehicles would take place over the next two years.
• The board accepted a $62,000 contract to resurface the North East Park basketball and tennis courts, with $46,500 of the amount funded through a New York State Department of Parks grant.

   
In other actions, trustees:

• Tabled at the request of Mr. Martinez the appointment of Joysetta Pearse from an alternate Zoning Board of Appeals member to a full member for a term ending April 5, 2015. Ms. Pearse later spoke during public comment and asked trustees to vote on her nomination.

   
In an announcement at the end of the meeting, Mayor Hardwick said the design for the North Main Street Revitalization project has been completed and the $7 million project “should start soon.”
   
Trustees adjourned to executive session after the nearly three-hour meeting.

By Jim Golding